Sewage treatment process

ABSTRACT

Ultrasonic energy is transmitted to sewage, including, inter alia, liquid or waste water, organic solid matter and aerobic bacteria, to reduce the liquid particle size and enrobe the reduced water particles with air to enhance the air to liquid absorption of the liquid and thereby provide (a) the aerobic bacteria with additional oxygen to utilize in the process of oxidation whereby the aerobic bacteria convert the organic solid matter to a more stable form or compound; (b) the effluent of sewage treatment plants with a higher oxygen content sufficient to aid or sustain desirable aquatic life. In a further embodiment, the liquid is first coverted to a thin film and then subjected to ultrasonic energy. In a still further embodiment, the sewage is first preheated to enhance the aerobic organism or bacteria activity. 
     In a still further embodiment the air is preheated and/or hydrated to diminish heat loss and thus a temperature drop, by the liquid. 
     Additionally, the synergistic effects of ultrasonic energy and ultraviolet energy are utilized to sensitize microorganisms which may then be easily destroyed by chemicals, and/or radiati on and/or other means. 
     Still further, the synergistic effects of ultrasonic and microwave energy are utilized to decontaminate the surface of sewage liquid and solids, the ultrasonic energy is utilized to produce a humid atmosphere and the microwave energy provides surface decontamination.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 281,843 filed Aug. 18,1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The treatment and disposal of sewage is universally recognized as anessential public service required in every community. The purpose ofthis service is to maintain an acceptable standard of sanitation and toinsure maximum protection. But with the best of intentions maximumprotection cannot always be maintained, primarily because of thepopulation growth. As an example, a typical sewage treatment plantdesigned and built to handle a maximum of 500,000 gallons per dayapproximately 14 years ago now is compelled to operate at nearly 3 timesits designed capacity or at a present rate of some 1.4 million gallonsper day. A system once considered safe, 14 years ago, can no longer beexpected to be operating at 3 times capacity safely. Thus, the effluentdischarged from a typical sewage treatment plant is not harmless and,more realistically, is in fact unsatisfactorily treated. Thus,objectionable and even dangerous sewage effluent is being dischargedinto streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. The problem then presented isthe operation of such a typical sewage treatment plant to be prohibited,especially when it is understood that the cost of such a plant 14 yearsago was a quarter of a million dollars ($250,000) and the replacementcost of an identical plant today is approximately three quarters of amillion dollars ($750,000). Obviously, small communities are committedto what they have. Hence, there is a compelling need to increase thesewage treating capacity of existing, overburdened sewage treatmentplants at a reasonable price and in an acceptable manner.

Further, if the quality of the environment is to be upgraded, lesscostly and more efficient means of sewage treatment techniques must beintroduced even in new or in the planning stage of new sewage plants.

Since water is used as a carrier for wastes, it constitutes by far thelargest percent of the volume of sewage. The average domestic sewage iscomposed of approximately 99.9% water and 0.1% solid matter althoughthese numbers may vary considerably from time to time and place toplace. While waste matters or impurities of any kind present in sewageconstitute only a small percentage of the total volume, theirobjectionable characteristics, their nature and significance must beunderstood. The solids are generally classified as organic solids andinorganic solids.

Organic solids: are wastes derived from plant or animal life and aretermed organic matter. Organic matter are proteins, carbohydrates andfats. Because these organic solids are largely unstable they willputrefy to produce objectionable odors and create a health hazard. Theirremoval and stabilization is, therefore, the primary objective of sewagetreatment.

Inorganic solids: the mineral present in the water supply, together withthe sand, silt and other mineral matter that may find its way intosewers makes up the inorganic matter in sewage. Unless large amounts ofthese solids are present they do not normally present a treatmentproblem. Grit removal units are included in most conventional plants toremove suspended inorganic material thus preventing it from enteringother plant units.

Referring again to the organic solids or matter, great numbers ofbacteria are present in raw sewage. Some bacteria present are unwantedand harmful due to their ability to produce disease, such bacteria arereferred to as pathogenic bacteria. Other bacteria present are harmlessand in fact are helpful and useful; these are generally referred to asanaerobic bacteria and aerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria are bacteriathat thrive in the absence of free oxygen or air and these bacteriaperform a vital role in sewage treatment by breaking down organic matteror solids in sewage and hence are utilized in sludge digestionprocesses. Aerobic bacteria are bacteria that require free oxygen fortheir life processes and these bacteria are particularly useful in thetreatment of sewage due to their ability to oxidize and purify thesewage. More particularly, such aerobic bacteria consume, digest or burnthe solid organic matter through the bio-chemical process wherein suchaerobic bacteria or organisms in the presence of oxygen convert theorganic matter or solids to a more stable form or compound thuspreventing such organic matter from decomposing and putrefying.

SUMMARY

The present invention increases the efficiency and capacity of presentsewage treatment or waste water systems so as to produce effluentssuitable for safe discharge into streams, rivers, lakes and oceans.

In addition, the present invention provides new and usefulsonobioaeration processes for treating sewage, in particular, for aidingand assisting the bio-chemical oxidation process wherein aerobicbacteria oxidize organic matter and convert the organic matter to a morestable form or compound. More particularly, ultrasonic energy istransmitted to sewage which includes liquid or waste water, organicsolid matter and aerobic bacteria, to reduce the liquid particle sizeand enrobe the reduced water particles with air to enhance the air toliquid absorption of the liquid and thereby provide the aerobic bacteriawith additional oxygen to utilize in the process of bio-chemicaloxidation whereby the aerobic bacteria convert the organic matter to amore stable form or compound.

Further, the present invention provides new and useful processes fordisinfecting, sanitizing and decontaminating sewage which includesliquid, primarily waste water, and solid matter.

More particularly, the synergistic effects of ultrasonic energy andultraviolet energy are utilized to sensitize microorganisms present insewage which sensitized microorganisms may then be easily destroyed bychemicals and/or radiation and/or other means.

Additionally, the synergistic effects of ultrasonic and microwave energyare utilized to decontaminate the surface of sewage liquid and solids,the ultrasonic energy being utilized to produce a humid atmosphere andthe microwave energy being utilized to provide surface decontaminationof the liquid and solid matter.

Upon the foregoing processes of the present invention being employed inexisting sewage and water treatment plants, the capacity, efficiency andeffectiveness of such sewage treatment plants are greatly enhanced andincreased. Moreover, the foregoing noted processes and apparatus of thepresent invention may be beneficially utilized to treat sewage and wastewater by being implemented as new processes for treating sewage andwaste water in new or planned plants as well as ones already inexistence.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a typical prior art sewage orwaste water treatment plant;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a diagrammatic presentation illustrating theapparatus embodying the present invention and particularly useful forpracticing certain processes of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic presentation and is an end view of theapparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of various configurations of electroacoustichorns and nozzles particularly useful in the practice of the apparatusand processes of the present invention, such being identified as 4(a),4(b) and 4(c);

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic presentation of apparatus embodying the presentinvention and which apparatus is particularly useful in practicingcertain processes of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of certain alternative structureof FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic presentation of apparatus embodying the presentinvention and which apparatus is particularly useful in practicingcertain processes of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic presentation illustrating apparatusparticularly useful in aiding and practicing certain processes of thepresent invention, namely, the avoidance of a temperature drop in thesewage during its absorption of air.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a diagrammatic illustration of atypical prior art sewage or waste water treatment plant. With regard tothe expression "sewage," it will be understood by those skilled in theart that such expression is generally used in the art interchangeablywith the expression waste water. However, it will be understood, asnoted above, that in the context of this specification and the appendedclaims, the term sewage is used to describe wastes derived fromdwellings, business houses, institutions and the like and whichtypically consist of 99.9% water and 0.1% organic and inorganic solids(which percentages may vary as noted above), and the various bacteriafound in such sewage, in particular aerobic bacteria or organisms.

The influent of such typical sewage treatment plant is raw sewage andsuch raw sewage is passed into the first stage of the treatment plantwhich is typically referred to as the primary treatment or primaryclassifier stage. In the primary classifier stage, through the processof sedimentation, approximately 90% of the settleable solids andapproximately 40-60% of the suspended solids are removed and exit theprimary classifier stage as sludge. Additionally, silt and grit areremoved and also exit the primary classifier stage as sludge. The sludgeis then, typically, treated and/or disposed of by being dumped in theocean or on appropriate land surfaces or dried. The sewage output of theprimary classifier stage is typically referred to as primary effluentwhich is passed into the secondary treatment stage of the sewage system,which secondary treatment stage is sometimes referred to as the filteror trickle filter stage.

In the secondary stage the primary effluent sewage receives what isgenerally referred to as biological treatment by being aerated toprovide the aerobic bacteria with oxygen to utilize in the bio-chemicaloxidation process wherein the aerobic bacteria oxidizes the organicmatter to convert the organic matter to a more stable form or compound.The output of the secondary or filter stage is generally referred to asthe secondary effluent which is passed into the tertiary or final sewagetreatment stage, typically referred to as the final clarifier, which isthe final separation stage wherein chlorine is typically added todisinfect the sewage. The output of the final treatment or finalclarifier stage is generally referred to as the sewage treatment planteffluent which is then sometimes discharged directly into streams,rivers, lakes and oceans.

As noted above, many sewage treatment plants presently in existence aresometimes operated upwards of three times their designed sewagetreatment capacity. Hence, the sewage is either more concentrated thanthat for which the sewage treatment plant was designed, or, in order toat least partially process the greater capacity of sewage, the sewagemust pass through the sewage treatment plant in less time thancalculated in the initial design of the sewage treatment plant. Hence,the secondary effluent is typically deficient in the quantity of oxygenrequired for the desired performance of the aerobic bacteria in theirbio-chemical oxidation of the organic solid or matter contained in thesewage. Further, it has been found that when the sewage is passedthrough the secondary or filter treatment stage in a time span less thanused in calculating the initial design of the plant, the aerobicbacteria may have exhausted the supply of free oxygen in the sewage bythe time the secondary effluent enters the final clarifier stage.

With regard to certain processes and apparatus of the present invention,and referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there are shown apparatus embodyingthe present invention and which apparatus is particularly useful inpracticing certain processes of the present invention. Moreparticularly, such apparatus includes an electroacoustic horn 10, suchelectroacoustic horn also being referred to in the art as a concentratorhorn and velocity transformer. In addition, such apparatus may includeapparatus 12 for receiving the sewage and for converting the sewage intoa thin film 14. Upon the electroacoustic horn being suitably energized,the horn, as is known in the art, vibrates, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and3, the thin film of sewage 14 is applied to the surface of the hornwhere ultrasonic energy is transmitted to the sewage thin film wherebythe sewage thin film is atomized to reduce the particle size of theliquid and enrobe the reduced liquid particles with air to provide theaerobic organisms with additional oxygen, derived from the enrobed air,for the aerobic organisms or bacteria to utilize in the process ofbio-chemical oxidation whereby the aerobic organisms convert the organicmatter to a more stable form or compound. It will be noted thatultrasonic energy is transmitted to the thin film of sewage in thepresence of air which air is the additional air with which the reducedliquid particles are enrobed.

Additionally, the apparatus may be provided with a rain bonnet 16 whichcollects the atomized sewage upon its impingement against the rainbonnetand the collected atomized sewage is converted again to liquid form andmay be received by the spillway 20 and transmitted, for example, to asubsequent sewage treatment stage.

It has been found that the input sewage to the apparatus 12 forconverting the sewage to a thin film, may be advantageously heated bysuitable heating means 22 to enhance the activity of the aerobicorganisms contained in the sewage. In accordance with the teaching ofthe present invention, it has been found that the sewage may be at atemperature of 98° F; the temperature of 98° F may be preexisting or maybe achieved by pre-heating in suitable means 22.

It will be understood that in the context of the present specificationand the appended claims, that the general expression "ultrasonic energy"is used to describe vibratory energy in the frequency range from 10kHzto 100kHz. Further that ultrasonic energy, or ultrasonic wave energy,may be brought into play in four major waves, through large variationsof pressure, motion, heat degradation or electrical phenomena. Acousticenergy is carried liquid by the back and forth motion of the moleculesalong the direction of propagation. This produces alternate adiabaticcompressions and rarefactions, together with corresponding changes indensity and temperature; further attention is directed to references 14and 24 referred to in the reference list attached hereto. However, ithas been found, and in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention, that particular advantages are achieved wherein, with regardto the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3, the ultrasonic energy is transmittedto the sewage at a frequency within the range from 20kHz to 50kHz; stillfurther, it has been found that still more advantageous results can beachieved if the ultrasonic energy is transmitted to the liquid at afrequency range from 20kHz to 30kHz.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there are shown alternate embodiments of theelectroacoustic horn 10 of FIGS. 2 and 3 which have been found to beparticularly useful in the present invention. The electroacoustic hornsof FIG. 4 include nozzle protions N. The nozzle N of the electroacoustichorn of FIG. 4(a) is a fan nozzle, the nozzle of FIG. 4(b) is a pin jetnozzle, and the nozzle of FIG. 4(c) is a spiral nozzle provided withspiral convolutions as shown and having a needle disposed centrally ofthe spiral convolutions.

It will be noted that each electroacoustic horn is provided with acentrally formed passageway P for receiving sewage, and it will befurther noted that the nozzles N are aligned concentrically with theirrespectively associated passageways P.

Sewage enters the passageway P, in the direction of the arrows, andflows through the passageway whereby, upon suitable energization of theelectroacoustic horns, ultrasonic energy is transmitted to the sewageand the sewage is atomized as shown.

In particular regard to the embodiment of FIG. 4(c), it will beunderstood, that the sewage flowing through the passageway P strikes theneedle and is dispersed to reduce the particle size of the sewage liquidand to enrobe the reduced liquid particles with additional air forutilization by the aerobic bacteria, and, the dispersed liquid collectson the surfaces of the spiral convolutions in the form of a thin filmwhereat, upon ultrasonic energy being applied to the thin film of sewageby the electroacoustic horn, the thin film of sewage is atomized tofurther reduce the liquid particle size of the sewage liquid and tofurther enrobe the further reduced liquid particles with additional airto provide the aerobic bacteria with additional oxygen in thebio-chemical oxidation of the organic matter included in the sewage.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that theelectroacoustic horns or concentrator horns 10 may be, for example, stephorns, conical horns, exponential horns, catenoidal horns and otherhorns, for example the electroacoustic horns disclosed in reference 26cited in the references referred to above and attached hereto. Further,that vibratory energy, for example, may be transmitted to the horns byan electrostrictive piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer portionT.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 4(a) and (b), it will be understood bythose skilled in the art, that advantageous and highly desirable resultscan be achieved without first converting the sewage to a thin film andwithout first preheating the sewage. Hence, it will be understood, thatit is within the contemplation of the present invention to transmitultrasonic energy to sewage including liquid, solid matter and aerobicbacteria, to atomize and enrobe additional oxygen without eitherpreviously converting to a thin film and/or previously preheating thesewage or air or hydrating the air.

It will be further understood by those skilled in the art that due tothe vibratory energy applied to the nozzles, the nozzles areself-cleaning. The vibratory energy tends to inhibit the growth oforganisms and aids in dislodging solid matter.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown additional apparatus embodyingthe present invention and which apparatus is particularly useful inpracticing certain processes of the present invention, in particular,those processes utilizing the synergistic effects of ultrasonic energyand ultraviolet light.

More particularly, the apparatus of FIG. 5 may include a vessel, tank orother container 30 providing an interior chamber 32 which, as shown, isprovided with an opening 34 exposed to the air. A plurality ofelectroacoustic horns 10 are disposed radially around the interior ofthe chamber 32, adjacent the opening 34, and suitably secured to theinterior walls of the vessel 30. Sewage, including liquid, solid organicmatter and aerobic bacteria, may be suitably subdivided into a pluralityof streams 42 as shown schematically at 40 and the individual streams 42are each fed to a respective one of the electroacoustic horns 10. Theelectroacoustic horns 10 may be advantageously any one of theelectroacoustic horns shown and previously described in FIG. 4 or anyother design found advantageous. Further, it will be understood that theelectroacoustic horns are provided with suitable control means as showngenerally at 50 for applying the electroacoustic energy to the horns toenergize the horns and cause the horns to transmit ultrasonic energy tothe individual streams of sewage 42 to atomize the sewage (as showndiagrammatically at 44) and reduce the sewage liquid particles in sizeand to enrobe the reduced liquid particles with additional air to beutilized by the aerobic bacteria in the bio-chemical oxidation of thesolid organic matter. Subsequent to being atomized, the sewage collectsand/or depositions within the vessel 30, the heavier solids may beexited as sludge as shown, and the collected liquid and dissolved solidmatter may be exited as effluent as shown.

It will be further understood by those skilled in the art that theelectroacoustic horn control apparatus 50 may be structured, in a mannerknown in the art, to operate the electroacoustic horns 10 in a commonmanner or alternatively, the electroacoustic horn control apparatus 50may be structured to operate each electroacoustic horn 10 independentlyfrom any other electroacoustic horn 10.

With further regard to FIG. 5, and in accordance with a further teachingof the present invention, a plurality of ultraviolet lamps 60 may beprovided interiorly of the vessel 30, adjacent the vessel opening 34 andadjacent and interspersed between the electroacoustic horns 10, theultraviolet lamps 60 may be suitably secured to the interior wall of thevessel 30. It will be further understood by those skilled in the artthat the ultraviolet lamps 60 may be provided with suitable lamp controlapparatus 62 for suitably energizing the ultraviolet lamps 60. Theultraviolet lamp control apparatus 62 may be structured and operated, ina suitable manner, to transmit energy to the ultraviolet lamp 60 in acommon manner, or alternatively, may be suitably structured and operatedto transmit energy to each ultraviolet lamp 60 independently of anyother ultraviolet lamp 60.

It has been found in accordance with the teaching of the presentinvention that the ultraviolet light may be advantageously transmittedto the atomized sewage at a range from 1800A to 4500A.

In the practice of the process of the present invention utilizing thesynergistic effects of ultrasonic energy and ultraviolet light, thesewage is atomized by the electroacoustic horns 10 as taught above, andthe ultraviolet lamps 60 emit ultraviolet light and transmit theultraviolet light to the atomized atmosphere of reduced particles ofliquid and solid matter to sensitize unwanted microorganisms containedin the sewage for ready subsequent treatment, e.g., destruction bychemicals and/or radiation and/or other.

With regard to still a further teaching of the present invention andreferring to FIG. 7, the teaching of the present invention utilizing thesynergistic effects of ultrasonic energy and microwave energy will nowbe set forth.

It will be understood that the apparatus will be provided with theelectroacoustic horns 10 as shown and described above, and a pluralityof microwave energy transmitters 70 will be provided within the chamber32 and interiorly of the vessel 30 by being suitably secured to theinterior walls of the vessel 30. The microwave energy transmitters 70are disposed interiorly of the chamber 32 below the electroacoustichorns 10 as shown.

In operation, the sewage will be applied to the electroacoustic horns 10whereupon the ultrasonic energy will be transmitted to the sewage toatomize the sewage (as shown diagrammatically at 44) as taught above.The atomized sewage will produce a humid atmosphere, and, the microwaveenergy transmitter 70 will be suitably energized by microwave energycontrol apparatus 72 and caused to emit microwave energy which will becoupled to the reduced particles of liquid and solid matter by the humidatmosphere. The microwave energy will decontaminate, to a predetermineddegree, the surfaces of the reduced particles of liquid and solid matterthrough thermal and non-thermal effects; it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the expression "surface" denotes some depth andhence a volume having a shallow depth.

It has been found, and in accordance with the teaching of the presentinvention, that in the treatment of sewage utilizing the synergisticeffects of ultrasonic and microwave energy that microwave energy may beadvantageously transmitted to the sewage at a frequency within the rangefrom 100MHz to 300,000MHz and that the microwave energy may beadvantageously transmitted to the humid atmosphere at an energy levelhigher than 0.01 watt/cm³.

Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 7, it has been found that theelectroacoustic horns 10 may be advantageously positioned at apredetermined angle α (less than 90°) with respect to the wall of thevessel 30. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that theangle α will be determined by such considerations, inter alia, as thepressure in the liquid, rate of flow of liquid, level of acoustic energytransmitted, temperature of the liquid, and nozzle configuration. Inaddition, it will be understood that it is within the contemplation ofthe present invention that the electroacoustic horns and nozzles may bemounted adjustably, by suitable means, with respect to the walls of thevessel 30 so as to permit the horns and nozzles to be inclined at avariable angle α, less than 90°, with respect to the vessel walls.

Referring now to FIG. 6, it will be understood that the pressure vessel30 may be provided with the hour-glass configuration shown so as tocreate a Venturi effect for drawing air into the chamber 34.

Referring now to FIG. 8, it will be understood that the air (enrobingair) of FIG. 3 and the air (enrobing air or air into which the variousreduced parties are projected) input to pressure vessel 30 may be passedthrough a duct 90 having a suitable means 91 for pre-heating the air toa predetermined temperature to compensate for any heat loss in theprocess of projecting the reduced particles of the aforementionedliquid, liquid and solids, or thin film, into such air. Further, withregard to the embodiment of FIG. 7, the apparatus of FIG. 8 may alsoinclude means 94 for combining with the means 91 to hydrate the airinput to the vessel 30 by passing the air through the duct 90 to hydratethe air to a predetermined percent humidity to assist in producing thehumid atmosphere for coupling the microwave energy. Suitable controls 93and 94 are provided to control the heat input and water input,respectively. It has been found that the enrobing air may beadvantageously pre-heated to a temperature of approximately 98° F, andthat the air in the embodiment of FIG. 7 may be advantageouslyhumidified to 30% to 90%.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it has been found that the present inventionas taught with regard to FIGS. 2 and 3, and with reference to existingsewage treatment plants may be advantageously positioned at points Aand/or B to operate on the above-described primary and secondaryeffluents. Also, with regard to existing sewage treatment plants, thepresent invention as taught with regard to FIGS. 5 and 7 may beadvantageously positioned at point C.

It will be still further understood by those skilled in the art, that itis within the contemplation and scope of the present invention toinclude the embodiment of FIG. 3 at points A and/or B, to operate on theprimary and/or secondary effluents (referred to as intraeffluents) andto also include the embodiment of FIG. 5 or FIG. 7 at point C.

It will be further understood by those skilled in the art that manymodifications and variations may be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:
 1. The process of sonobioaeration for treating sewage utilizingan electroacoustic horn, said sewage including liquid, solid organicmatter and aerobic organisms comprising the steps of:exposing saidelectroacoustic horn to air; converting said sewage to a thin film;applying said thin film of sewage to the surface of said electroacoustichorn; and transmitting ultrasonic energy with said electroacoustic hornto said thin film of sewage, in the presence of said air, to atomize thethin film of sewage to reduce the particle size of said liquid andenrobe said reduced liquid particles with said air to provide saidaerobic organisms with additional oxygen, derived from said air, forsaid aerobic organisms to utilize in the process of bio-chemicaloxidation whereby said aerobic organisms convert said organic matter toa more stable compound.
 2. The process of sonobioaeration for treatingsewage utilizing an electroacoustic horn, said sewage including liquid,solid organic matter and aerobic organisms, comprising:exposing saidelecrtroacoustic horn to air, passing said sewage through a passagewayformed internally, of said electroacoustic horn, impinging said sewageagainst an impinging member provided centrally of a spiral nozzleattached to said electroacoustic horn and aligned concentrically withsaid passageway disperse said sewage and to reduce the particle size ofsaid liquid and to enrobe the reduced liquid particles with said air toenhance the air to liquid absorption of said liquid, collecting apredetermined portion of said dispersed sewage on the convolutions ofsaid nozzle to form said sewage into a thin film; and transmittingultrasonic energy in the presence of said air to said sewage in saidthin firm form collected on said nozzle convolutions to further reducethe size of said liquid particles and to further enrobe said liquidparticles of further reduced size with additional air, said additionalair providing oxygen for said aerobic organisms to utilize in thebio-chemical oxidation process of converting said organic matter to amore stable compound.
 3. The process according to claim 2 wherein saidultrasonic energy is transmitted to said thin film at a frequency withinthe range from 10kHz to 100kHz.
 4. The process according to claim 2wherein said ultrasonic energy is transmitted to said thin film at afrequency within the range from 20kHz to 50kHz.
 5. The process accordingto claim 2 wherein said ultrasonic energy is transmitted to said thinfilm at a frequency within the range from 20kHz to 30kHz.
 6. The processaccording to claim 2 including the further step of pre-heating saidenrobing air to a predetermined temperature to compensate for any heatloss in the process of reducing the particle size of said thin film inthe presence of said enrobing air.
 7. The process according to claim 6wherein said predetermined temperature is approximately 98° F.